The recall failed, and the feds take their shot

When FBI agents raided Trenton’s City Hall days ago, an eyewitness noticed mayoral aide Anthony Roberts leaving the building through a back door.

“He’s getting away. He’s getting away,” she shouted.

Maybe he was just going out to lunch, but my mind immediately conjured up images from “The Fugitive” as the one-armed man ran from Dr. Richard Kimble’s home.

I nearly pulled a rib cage muscle from laughing so hard. Seriously, Trentonians need to seek a minimum amount of laughter these days.

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Roberts has returned to work and has not been implicated in the investigation, but it seems like everybody in this capital city is on the run, on vacation, in hiding or absolutely innocent of whatever the feds are going to claim.

Ralphiel Mack proclaimed his innocence on Wednesday in a Trentonian story, a declaration that mirrored a statement by Mayor Tony Mack, his brother.

We could have a trifecta if Jo Jo Giorgianni makes the same allegation, that FBI agents have made an incredible error and that he, Mayor Mack and Ralphiel are not guilty of anything the government alleges soon.

Let me say this: it’s not normal for FBI agents to rummage through a mayor’s home for about six hours. It’s not normal for agents to issue search warrants for private residences as they did at Mr. Giorgianni’s home and again at Ralphiel Mack’s house.

Trenton is screwed up so much that Mack supporters continue to bombard me with this “Innocent until proven guilty” crap. Listen, I don’t like it when the PSE&G guy wants entry to my basement to read a meter, even though his visit may save me a few bucks.

I hide when Jehovah Witness representatives invade our block. So, you know how I would feel if FBI agents came to my Chambersburg home and looked through my desk drawers, kitchen drawers and my drawers, especially while they encase my body.

While few city council members speak about Mack’s latest predicament, there is refreshment when someone like South Ward Councilman George Muschal suggests a fumigation of city hall.

Truth yesterday found a new outlet when a Mack supporter unleashed realism. Councilman-at-large Alex Bethea finally voiced reason about his guy Mack.

“Honestly? This doesn’t look good. It can’t look good when the FBI is raiding the mayor’s house. And it can’t look good when the FBI is taking over offices at city hall. I’m not sure how the mayor can conduct business with all this going on,” Bethea said.

For the record. The remainder of this column has been written from a position on the floor, a position accepted after hearing Bethea criticize a mayor he has supported for two dreadful years.

Perhaps Earth turns even though Mack detractors may feel as if they have taken a bite of apple to find only half a worm.

This FBI invasion remains a fantastic exercise for civic lessons. Trenton will have an opportunity for a great leap forward with or without Mayor Mack. I still believe the FBI held off on this investigation until the recall effort failed.

Trenton residents had their shot to take out Mayor Mack and now the feds take their shot, as the Mayor’s contends he has not violated the public trust.

Violations started almost from Day 1 with an attempted hire of a convicted felon followed by a deluge of other appointments, including the hiring of a municipal judge who had warrants for her arrest.

A review of all other missteps and poor judgments would only landslide an opinion that Trenton needs a political bloodletting.

The federal grand jury convenes next week as city officials swear to tell the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth.